Bowling ball lift



W. F. HUCK BOWLING BALL LIFT sept. 6, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Sept. 18, 1950 Sept. 6, 1955 w. F. HucK 2,717,155

BOWLING BALL LIFT Filed Sept. 18, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 70 lo L' @GQ W w. F. HUcK 2,717,155

BOWLING BALL LIFT 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nami Sept. 6, 1955 Fild sept. 18, 195o Sept. 6, 1955 w. F. HUcK BOWLING BALL LIFT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sep't.. 18, 1950 United States Patent O BOWLING BALL LIFT Application September 18, 195i), Serial No. 185,407

13 Claims. (Cl. 273-49) This invention relates to a lift or elevator for bowling balls and more particularly to such a device for elevating a bowling ball from the pit of an alley to a return track for the ball.

It is the general objective of the invention to provide a new and improved bowling ball lift for such purpose.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved bowling ball lift including a pair of generally vertical tracks over whicha ball may be rolled upwardly, a continuously driven belt for rolling balls over the tracks, and means for initially engaging a ball with the belt and tracks.

Other objects are to provide such a belt type ball lift with an actuator device normally located below the ball entrance to the tracks and adapted to receive a bowling ball from the pit of the alle a latch device for holding the actuator device in inoperative position and operable by the weight of a ball to release the actuator device and means for resetting the actuator device operable by the ball during its upward movement along the ball tracks.

Further objects will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a 'preferred form of the invention located in a cut-out portion of the kickbacks between two adjacent alleys, the front cover of the casing of the device being removed;

Fig. 2 is a similar enlarged fragmentary view showing the actuator device after release by the latch device and in its upper position wherein a ball thereon has been inserted between the belt and ball tracks;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower portion of Fig. l showing the actuator device in its lower or latched position;

Fig. 3a is a fragmentary vertical section along the line 15a-3a 0f Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section along the line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational. View of the upper portion of the ball lift taken in the opposite direction from Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section along the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

There is shown in the drawings and hereinafter described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the understanding that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular form and arrangement shown, it being contemplated that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the form shown in the drawings, the invention Ais embodied in a ball lift installed in a cut-out 10 in kickbacks 11 located between two bowling alleys, one of which is marked A, the kickbacks being spaced apart suliiciently to permit installation of the ball lift therebetween. The lift includes a frame comprising a vertically positioned end is connected to ece channel member 12, side plates 13 (Fig. 4) extending upwardly along the channel 12 to the top of the channel as shown best in Figure 5 and a front element 14. A pair of substantially vertically extending parallel tracks 16 are supported on the frame element 14 by means of brackets 17, 18 and 19 and are spaced apart laterally so that points defining relatively small circles on the ball contact the tracks as the ball rolls and the ball thereby rolls up at a speed less than that of the belt which engages the periphery of the ball. The tracks are preferably curved as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so that a straight run of a tensional belt will operate to roll a ball up the tracks.

An endless belt 20 passes over a lower pulley 21 rotatably supported on a shaft 22 supported in the lower portion of the casing and on plates 15" on the plates 15, 15 mounted on the channel member 12, the front run of the belt extending upwardly adjacent the ball tracks 16, over a guide pulley 23, an idler pulley 24 and an upper pulley 25. The upper pulley is supported on a shaft 26 journalled in bearings carried by the upper portion of the plates 15, 15'. This shaft also carries a larger pulley 27 driven by a Vabelt 28 which also extends over a pulley 29 on an electric motor 30. The motor is pivotally supported on a bracket 31 extending forwardly from the upper end of the plate 15', the motor being pivotally carried on the bracket on a pin 32 so that the weight ofthe motor serves to tension the belt 28, as shown most clearly ,in Figs. l and 6.

The pulley 23 is mounted on a shaft 33 extending between brackets 34 secured to the plates 15, 15 (Figs. 1, 6 and 7). A shaft 35 for the idler pulley 24 is carried in a vertically extending arm 36 of a bell crank carried on the shaft 33, a second arm 37 of which extends horizontally and is spring tensioned in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. l) by means of a coiled compression spring 38 positioned between the free end of the arm 37 and a bracket 39 secured to the upper end of plate 15. A rod 42 extends within the spring 38 so as to prevent ybuckling thereof.

It is contemplated that the belt 20, during operation of the ball lift, will run continuously and will lift by rolling up and over the tracks 16, any bowling balls inserted between the belt and the lower ends of the tracks. The belt-type ball lift per se is disclosed and claimed in my application Serial No. 99,087, now Patent No. 2,682,405, entitled Apparatus For Returning Bowling Balls in Bowling Alleys which was filed on lune 9, 1949. The instant application discloses and claims a novel combination of a belttype ball lift and means for inserting the ball into the ball lift.

In the form shown, the invention includes actuator means for inserting balls between the belt and tracks. This means is in the form of a device which includes a pair of ball actuator arms 50 (Figs. 1 to 4) loosely mounted on Vthe opposite ends of the shaft 22 on which the pulley 21 also rotates freely. These actuator arms ,are normally in a lower position as illustrated in Figs.

l and 3, wherein they are in position to receive a bowling ball shown in dotted outline at B, and when rotated in a counterclockwise direction from the position of Figs. l and 3 to that of Fig. 2, the actuator arms lift a ball and insert it between the belt 20 and tracks 16 as shown in Fig. 2.

A coil spring 51 is connected f l t 15 at its upper end to the rame e einen by means of a pin 52 and at its lower the outer end of a member 53 secured to the shaft 22 by a pin 54. The actuator arms 50 normally rest, when in their lower positions as shown in Figs. l and 3, on lateral extensions or lips 53 and 57 formed, respectively, on the member 53 and a segmental plate 57 which is secured to the shaft 22 by a pin 58, A latch 55 is carried on a latch arm 59 secured to a cross shaft 60 as by means of a pin 61, the cross shaft 'being rotatably supported in a bearing 62 ontheframe element 15 and a second bearing 63 secured to the side plate 15' (Fig. 4). The latch 55 is adapted to engage an 'abutment A56 formed on the segmental plate 57 by a notch therein. When this latch is engaged as shown in Figs. l and 3, the spring 51 is held in an extended condition by means `of the latch 55, segmental plate 7, shaft 22 and member 53. A trip arm 64for the latch is secured at one end to the shaft60 by meansincluding a bolt device`65 and is located somewhat centrally between'the side plates'13 as shown best in Figs. 4 and 5, so that the forward end thereof extends between rubber rollers 66 carried on the actuator arms S0. The front "e'n'd ofthe trip arm 64 is preferably covered'by rubber, leather, or other suitable material at 67 where 'it is normally eng'agedby a ball rolled into the casing through 'a side plate opening from the forward 'end of an adjacent bowling alley pit P. A coil spring 65 is connected between a downwardly extending portion 69 of `thetrip arm 64 (Fig. 3) and a pin 70 projecting'laterall'y from the frame element vand serves to swing the latch arm 59 in a counterclockwis'e direction as seen in Fig. 3 into position to engage the abutment 56.

'Upon entry of a ball into the casing of the ball lift and engagement thereof with the portion 67 of the trip arr'n, the ball is located approximately asshown in Fig. lso asto be in the path of movement of the rollers V66 on the actuator arms 50. The weight of the ball fswings the trip arm to a lowered position wherein the latch 55 is disengaged from 'the abutment `56 and the spring 51 operates to swing the actuator arms upwardly Vto theposition of Fig. 2, thereby elevating the ball and inserting it between the belt and tracks 16. Preferably, a dashpot device 71 is connected between a pin 72 on :the frame element 15 and a pin 73 on the member 53 in'order to control the speed of the actuator arms dur- `ing thismovement. The ball is then rolled up over the tracks '16 by the action of the belt 20, andis discharged 'onto the elevated return tracks T. The idler pulley ar- 'rangement for the belt permits the operative run'of the -b`elt`to yield vas shown inFig. 2 during the ball 'elevating operation.

vIn order to reset the actuator arms 50 to their lower "position for the reception of another ball, a reset ar'rn 75 ispivotally supported on the frame'by a shaft 76 jourra'led in the frame elements 15 and 15 (Figs. l, Z and 5). As shown in Fig. 5,`this arm is outside of the frame 'element 15 and has a bent outer portion 77 carrying Ta rubber roller 78 located centrally of the tracks 16 when ivnposition'to be engaged lby a vball so as to have n o tendency to deflect a ball laterally. A pair of links "'79 arepivoted at their upper ends to a pin S0 carried on the reset arm 75. The lowerends of the links strad- `dle the segmental rnernber'57 and carry atransverse pin 81'therebetween which extends through an arcuate slot '82 in the membe157. The arcuate slot provides a lost ,m'otion'connection between the links and the member 57'so that'the reset arm 7S'may tall by .gravity to the 'position shown in Fig. latter a ball passes up over the tracks 16. A stop devicei84 is secured to the side of '.thevfra'me element 1S in position'tov engage the reset arm '75 as *shown in Fig. 2 to limit the downward move of the reset arm and at the same time limit Vthe upwardrnove- 'nient of the actuator arms 50.

lnrnost bowling 'alley pits, the pit iioor P is inclined downwardly toward the alley with the result that balls bowled on the alley, after strikingthe pit cushion (not shown) bounce forwardly again and roll into the forward portion 'of the pit. lt is therefore desirable to have an opening 40 adjacent the forward wall of the pit, as shown in Figs. l land 2 through which a ball passes so that it is convenient for the lpin boy to kick 'the ball laterally, whereupon it will roll into the "opening `40 and 'on to the rails'R which support'theball in position adjacent the actuator arms 50. It is also desirable, when 'the ball'reaches 'the return tracks T, to have Yit rolling in a clockwise direction (Figs. 1 and 2) so that it continues to roll towards the I,right without interruption and back to the usual ball rack at the approach end of the alley.

In order to have the ball rotate in the proper direction for discharge on to the tracks T, the run of the belt which cooperates with the ball should be located to the left as shown in Figs. l and 2.

The invention as herein disclosed .permits locating the ball opening 40 adjacent the front end of the pit 'and pro vides for rotation of the ball by the belt which will roll the'ball up the tracks 16 and onto the tracks T.

In use, assuming the motor 30 is operating, the belt travels in the direction indicated in Fig. l and the actuator arms Si) are in their lower or latched position. Entry of a ball through the opening 40 deposits the ball between the rails R and at the same time operates the trip arrn-64 to release the latch arm 59. The actuator 'arms '50 fare then rotated in a counterclockwise'directionby thes'pring 51, from the position shown in Fig. l to that `shown in Fig. 2, thespring acting through the member 53 and the lip 53' on the adjacent arm 50 and through the 'rheinber 53, shaft 22, segmental plate 57 and lip 57 o'nithe other arm S0, thus inserting the ball B between the belt andthe tracks '16. The belt, through its frictionalen- Vgagernent with'the ball, rolls the ball over thetracks 1'6 Vwith `suicientmomentum so that when it reaches Vthe upper end of the tracks 16 the ball rolls out onto the 'returntracks T. During its movement over the tracks16 the' ball engages the roller 78 on'the reset arm 75 and swings thereset arm in a counterclockwise direction from the position of'Fig. 2 to a lraised position wherein th'e `ball B may roll out from under the reset arm 75 as it passes over' the top portion of the tracks 16. During this movement of the reset arm the pin 81 on the lower "n'd of Vthe links 79 operates against the upper end of the `slot SZ and swings the plate 57 from the position Vshown in lFig. 2 backto 'the'position' shown in Fig. 1. This movement of the plate STand' its lip I57 and the simultaneous 'movement ofthe member 53 and its lip 53 permits Athe arr`r'1s`50 to swing downwardly by gravity to the positions "'s'how'n'in Figs. l and 3. The arms are preferably so 'designed to fall by gravityiso 'thatinthe evet'there `is any "obstruction inthe Aopening 40 the arms may stop against the obstruction. Furthermore, if the pin boy has his hand or foot in the `opening the Igravity action permits the arms to stop and thereby avoid injury. The segmental plate 57 and member 53'are then held in their resetlposit'ion'by the latch'SS.

Y Generally, when the Vdevice is installed inthe kick- `backs`be`twe`en two alleys, an Vopening 40 is provided in each of the side plates 13 so that balls -m'ay Ybe Jfecl'to 'the ball lift from both pits.

I claim: y p '1. Abowling'ball lift having, in combination, an -up- 'right easing, a pair nof substantially parallel and curved balltracks' positioned vertically in said casing, anrendle'ss Vbelthavingone run positioned along said tracks and'op- "rablewhen driven'to roll a ball over the tracks, means for supporting and driving said belt, and meansfor inserting a b'all'between said belt and the lower portion of said tracks comprising an actuator having a pair of arms .piv-

' 'tally'supported in said casing and normally occupying a'lwer inoperative position adjacent the bottom of the ta'sin'g'.ari'dve'rtically below said tracks, means for rotating l'said actuator arms in a direction to `move a Aball into engagement with v'said tracks and belt, and a latch devicenormally-holding said actuator arms in their lower position and having a trip arm normally positionedwto be engaged by'a ball Vrolled through an opening in the V1easing and cause Voperation of said actuator -arms and means'for resetting the Vactuator'armsafter an operation thereof comprising a reset lever pivotally supported -in said casing adjacent the upper end of said tracksvand with a portion extending into the path of a ball passing over the tracks, a link connected at one end to said lever and at its other end having a lost motion connection with said actuator arms, said lost motion connection permitting the reset lever to swing down by gravity to its operative position after a reset operation and said link operating to reset the actuator arms when the reset lever is actuated by a ball rolling up over the tracks.

2. A bowling ball lift having, in combination, an upright casing, a pair of ball tracks positioned in said casing, an endless belt having one run positioned along said tracks and operable when driven to roll a ball over the tracks, means for supporting and driving said belt, and means for inserting a ball between said belt and the lower portion of said tracks comprising an actuator having arms pivotally supported in said casing and normally occupying a lower inoperative position adjacent the bottom of the casing and vertically below said tracks, spring means for rotating said actuator in a direction to move a ball on said arms into engagement with said tracks and belt, and a latch device normally holding said actuator arms in their lower position and having a trip arm normally positioned to be engaged by a ball rolled through an opening in the casing and cause operation of said actuator and means for resetting the actuator after an operation thereof comprising a reset lever pivotally supported in said casing adjacent the tracks and with a portion extending into the path of a ball passing over the tracks, and a link connected at one end to said lever and at its other end with said actuator.

3. A bowling ball lift having, in combination, an upright casing, a pair of substantially parallel ball tracks positioned vertically in said casing, an endless belt having one run positioned along said tracks and operable when n driven to roll a ball over the tracks, means for supporting and driving said belt, and means for inserting a ball between said belt and the lower portion of said tracks comprising an actuator having a pair of arms pivotally supported in said casing and normally occupying a lower inoperative position adjacent the bottom of the casing and vertically below said tracks, spring means for rotating said actuator arms in a direction to move a ball into engagement with said tracks and belt, a latch device normally holding said actuator arms in their lower position and having a trip arm normally positioned to be engaged by a ball rolled through an opening in the casing and cause operation of said actuator arms, and means for resetting the actuator arms after an operation thereof comprising a reset lever pivotally supported in said casing adjacent the upper end of said tracks and with a portion extending into the path of a ball passing up over the tracks, a link connected at one end to said lever and at its other end with said actuator arms, said link operating to relatch the actuator arms when the reset lever is actuated by a ball being lifted.

4. A bowling ball lift having, in combination, an upright casing, a pair of substantially parallel ball tracks positioned vertically in said casing, an endless belt having one run positioned along said tracks and operable when driven to roll a ball over the tracks, means for supporting and driving said belt, and means for inserting a ball between said belt and tracks comprising an actuator having a pair of arms pivotally supported in said casing and normally occupying a lower inoperative position adjacent the bottom of the casing and vertically below said tracks, spring means for rotating said actuator arms in a direction to move a ball into engagement with said tracks and belt, and a latch device normally holding said actuator arms in their lower position and having a trip arm normally positioned to be engaged by a ball rolled through an opening in the casing and cause operation of said actuator arms.

5. A bowling ball lift having, right casing,

in combination, an upa pair of ball tracks positioned vertically in said casing', an endless belt having one runl positioned along said tracks and operable when drivento roll a ball up over the tracks, means for supporting and driving said belt, means for yieldably tensioning the belt, and means through an opening in the casing and cause operation ofV said actuator arms.

6. A bowling ball lift having, in c`ombination,`a casing,V

a p'air of ball tracks positioned in said casing, an endless belt having one run positioned Valong said tracks and operable when driven to roll a ball over the tracks, means for supporting and driving said belt, and means `for inserting aball between said belt and tracks comprising anactuator having a pair of arms pivotallysupported in lsaid casing and normally occupying an inoperative position adjacent the bottom of the casing and spaced from said tracks, spring means for rotating said actuator arms in a direction to move a ball into engagement with said tracks and belt, and a latch device normally holding said actuator arms in their inoperative position and having a trip arm normally positioned to be engaged by a ball rolled through an opening in the casing and cause operation of said actuator arms. v

7. A bowling ball lift having, in combination, a casing, a pair of ball tracks positioned in said casing, an endless belt having one run positioned along said tracks and operable when driven to roll a ball over the tracks, means for supporting and driving said belt, and means for inserting a ball between said belt and tracks comprising an actuator having a pair of arms pivotally supported in said casing and normally occupying an inoperative position adjacent the bottom of the casing and spaced from said tracks, spring means for rotating said actuator arms in a direction to move a ball into engagement with said tracks and belt, a latch device normally holding said actuator arms in their inoperative position and having a trip arm normally positioned to be engaged by a ball rolled through an opening in the casing and cause operation of said actuator arms, and means for resetting the actuator arms after an operation thereof comprising a reset lever pivotally supported in said casing adjacent the tracks and with a portion extending into the path of a ball passing over the tracks, a link connected at one end to said lever and at its other end with said actuator arms, said link operating to relatch the actuator arms when the reset lever is actuated by a ball rolling over the tracks.

8. A bowling ball lift having, in combination, an upright casing, a pair of ball tracks positioned in said casing, an endless belt having one run positioned along said tracks and operable when driven to roll a ball over the tracks, means for supporting and driving said belt, means for receiving a ball and raising it into engagement with said belt and tracks, and control means for said last mentioned means operable by the weight of a ball when'deposited thereon to cause actuation of said means.

9. A bowling ball lift having, in combination, an upright casing, a pair of ball tracks positioned vertically in said casing, an endless belt having one run positioned along said tracks and operable when driven to roll a ball over the tracks, means for supporting and driving said belt, actuator means for raising a ball into engagement with said belt and tracks, latch means for said actuator means operable by the weight of a ball when deposited thereon to release said actuator means, and means operable by a ball rolling over said tracks to reset said actuator means.

l0. A bowling ball lift having, in combination, a pair of ball -tracks positioned substantially vertically, an endless belt'having one run positioned along said tracks Aand operable when driven to roll a ball up over .the tracks, .means v'for supporting and driving said belt, means for receiving a ball and raising it into engagement with said belt and tracks, and control means for causing the actuation of said last mentioned means operable by the weight ot a ball when deposited on the control means.

ll. A bowling ball lift having, in combination, a pair of ball tracks positioned substantially vertically, an endless belt having one run positioned along said tracks and operable when driven to roll a ball up over the tracks, means for supporting and driving said belt, means for receiving .a ball and raising it into engagement with said belt and tracks, and latch means for said ball raising means operable by the weight of a ball to release said ball raising means.

l2. A bowling ball return having, in combination, a pair of ball tracks, an endless belt having one run positioned along said tracks and operable when driven to roll a ball over the tracks, means for supporting and driving said belt, mechanism including ball engaging means movable toward and away from the belt for receiving a ball from an alley pit and moving it into engagement with said belt and tracks, and means operable by a ball rolling over the `tracks to position said ball receiving means for ,receiving another ball.

i3- Ap'bowling ball l"thaving, incombination, an -upright casing, a ,pair of substantially parallel ball tracks positioned vertically in said fcasing, an endless .belt -having one run positioned along said tracks and operable when driven .to .roll .aball over .the tracks, means for supporting and driving said belt, and V-means for inserting'a ball between said belt and tracks comprising :an a'ctu ator having a, pair of arms Apivotally supported in said casing and normally occupying a lower inoperative position adjacent the bottom of the casing and vertically below said tracks, springmeans for rotating said actuator arms in a direction to move a ball finto engagement with said tracks and belt, and a latch device normally vholding said actuator arms in Ltheir lower position and having a trip means normally positioned to be engaged by a ball rolled through kan opening in the casing andk cause operation of said actuator arms.

Strong July 9, 1940 Rondell et al. May l0, 1949 

